What first-year tips do you have for mom-to-be Chelsea Clinton?

THE BIG NEWS recently was that Chelsea Clinton, the 34-year-old daughter of former President Bill Clinton and ex-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, and her husband, Marc Mezvinsky, are expecting their first child this fall.

The first year with a baby is a wondrous and challenging experience. If you're a parent whose kids are older, you made it through somehow, perhaps a little ragged around the edges.

With that in mind, what advice do you have for Chelsea and Mark and other first-time parents-to-be for that first year? What did you learn? What would you have done differently? What helped the most? What should you have not worried about?

Send in your essay of no more than 200 words to lifestyles@marinij.com by May 16. Please put "Parental Advice" in the subject line, and don't forget your name and Marin town. We'll run them in the May 27 Plus section and online.